‘Privately’: Journalist shares Celtic’s feelings about the criticism aimed at Peter Lawwell

As the season draws to it’s close and the title race hots up, there are many issues at Celtic that have raised their heads as the team struggles in its title defence.

The form of the players is a huge concern. Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O’Riley and Luis Palma are nowhere near the players they looked like at the start of the season in the Champions League.

Injuries have been a huge concern over the course of the season and are only now just starting to let up.

However, the main talking point has been recruitment. It has been nowhere near good enough. Far too many millions have been spent on far too many players who are clearly not good enough and the fans anger for that has been vented towards Peter Lawwell.

Well, Peter Lawwell and Brendan Rodgers if we are to be exact. But it’s the criticism being aimed at the Celtic Chairman that has left people at the club feeling bemused. That’s according to journalist, Graeme McGarry.

In his latest column, McGarry shares what the general feeling is inside the Parkhead corridors to the criticism and what part Lawwell has to play in the signing of players.

McGarry said [The Herald Sport print edition page 4], “Rodgers must take his fair share of responsibility for all of this, but all of these woes can be traced back to the fact that the recruitment has lacked ambition, and in January, has failed to improve the team.

“Privately, Celtic are somewhat bemused by the vitriol being aimed at chairman and former chief executive Peter Lawwell over that, given he now has no part to play in the signing of players. Well, apart from his son being the head of recruitment.

“What agency that gives him in that area, only they know, but the perception of that dynasty has already led to the fans making up their minds on who is to blame.”

 

‘Apart from his son being the head of recruitment.’ That is the line. That is exactly why the fans are aiming criticism at Lawwell.

Many are deeply unhappy that Mark Lawwell is in such a position that has seen the last three to four transfer windows largely, ending in failure.

But let’s take it into context for this season alone. Celtic have wasted upwards of £10m on players like Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Marco Tilio, Hyeokkyu Kwon and Odin Thiago Holm.

Five players who barely feature with two already shipped out on loan. The jury is still out on Luis Palma, Paulo Bernardo and Nicolas Kuhn. Again, a further £6m+ on players who are still struggling to make a contribution to the Celtic first team.

Peter Lawwell may well have no part to play in the recruitment but the implosion of this season is happening whilst he is the Chairman.

The long and short is that Celtic are in very real danger of losing the title to a very poor Rangers side and the team’s fall from grace is so huge that every person at Celtic is being criticised, including Lawwell.